Horse Breeding, Horse Mating: Veterinary Advice by Stephen Ashdown

HORSE
BREEDING / HORSE MATING

How
to make sure you get it right.

Here
are the searching questions you need to make.

Submitted
by Stephen
Ashdown’s Horse Mating Veterinary Advice  

Should
I breed from my horse?  Quite a fundamental question, I’ll think
you’ll agree? 

1. 
   Conformation
   – are there any serious conformation faults?

 

2. 
   Bloodline –
   a horse with good breeding is easier to sell.  

 

3. 
   Performance
   – what do you want the horse to do or become when adult? If a racer or
   an eventer a proven competition history is essential.

 

4. 
   Temperament –
   Would you like to see your foal have the same temperament as his
   mother. Remember characteristics are passed on by both parents. If the
   answer to all these questions is positive – you do feel confident in
   breeding from your mare, the next issue is whether you want the mating
   to take place at a stud or at home.

These are some of the issues:

1: 
What does
a new foal cost? First there is the stud fee of £500 plus; then there
is stud livery and routine vet’s bills of £1-2000 and another £500 plus
if you intend to send your mare to foal at the stud. These items do not
allow for something going wrong with the pregnancy, birth or the foal’s
first few days.

2: 
Get the
best stallion for the job not the cheapest one or the one nearest to
you. Make a short list of stallions you wish to see – studs have photos
and details – then go and look them over.

3:  In preparing your short list of stallions
bear in mind

(a)
Breeding
Record. Has the stallion sired a suitable foal before? 

(b)
Performance
Record. Has the stallion been successful in your chosen field?

(c)
Conformation. Make sure you don’t select a stallion with the same
faults as your mare. 

(d)
Size.
A larger sire should yield a taller foal.

4.
Stallion  shortlist. You can probably make a short list from all
the photos and details provided by the studs and your other research.

5.
Checking
out the stud. When you visit each stud check out the venue, staff,
general ambience and the cost. You then need to balance the looks and
character of the selected stallion with the perceived quality of the
stud.: